Tag Archives: vehicles

NEW CARS

GM Doubles Down in China with the New Wuling Xingguang 560

While Western automakers continue to trip over themselves in China, General Motors is quietly doing something radical: selling cars people actually want. Last year, GM and its joint ventures moved nearly 1.9 million vehicles in the world’s largest auto market, a 2.3-percent gain over 2024. That growth wasn’t fueled by nostalgia or brand heritage but by New Energy Vehicles—most notably the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, which alone found more than 435,000 buyers.

Now GM is looking to keep that momentum rolling with a new, do-it-all family hauler wearing a familiar Wuling badge. Meet the Xingguang 560, a midsize crossover designed to cast the widest possible net by offering gas, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. It’s a very China-specific solution—and that’s exactly why it might work.

Familiar Shape, Modern Details

Wuling hasn’t exactly been chatty about the Xingguang 560, but the design tells most of the story. Up front, there’s a slim grille flanked by swept-back headlights with X-shaped daytime running lights—a theme that repeats itself at the rear with matching taillights. The face changes depending on what’s under the hood: electrified versions get a sealed front end, while the ICE model keeps things open for cooling.

Along the sides, the 560 sticks to crossover convention with black plastic body cladding and an available contrasting roof. Stylish wheels and a roof-mounted spoiler add just enough flair, while the rear pillar and window treatment are unmistakably reminiscent of the Subaru Forester. Coincidence? Maybe. Effective? Definitely.

Bigger Than You’d Expect

Dimensionally, the Xingguang 560 is right in the heart of the midsize segment—and then some. It stretches 186.8 inches long, spans 72.8 inches in width, and stands 69.1 inches tall. The wheelbase measures a generous 110.6 inches. Stack it up against a Chevrolet Equinox and the Wuling comes out 3.6 inches longer with 3.1 extra inches between the axles.

That extra length pays dividends inside, at least on paper. Wuling claims up to 68.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row folded flat, along with more than 25 storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin. One of those is even hidden beneath the rear seats—a neat trick for stashing valuables or just hiding clutter from judgmental passengers.

Minimalist, But Not Bare

Inside, the Xingguang 560 follows the modern minimalist playbook. A digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch infotainment screen dominate the dashboard, joined by a two-spoke steering wheel and distinctive air vents that break up the otherwise clean layout. The center console appears to house a dual wireless smartphone charger, which feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity in 2026.

Wuling hasn’t released material details or trim breakdowns yet, but the overall vibe suggests function over flash—exactly what buyers in this segment tend to prioritize.

Powertrains for Everyone

Where the Xingguang 560 really earns its keep is under the skin. The base internal-combustion version uses a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder making 174 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission, the latter likely accounting for the bulk of sales.

Step up to the plug-in hybrid and range anxiety becomes a nonissue. Wuling claims a combined WLTC range of up to 684 miles, with reports suggesting an electric-only range of about 78 miles. That’s enough to handle most daily driving without burning a drop of fuel, while still offering long-distance flexibility.

Then there’s the fully electric version, which features a 60-kWh battery pack and a single motor producing 134 horsepower. Its claimed CLTC range tops out at 311 miles, a solid figure for a family-oriented crossover aimed squarely at value-conscious buyers.

The Price Is the Point

And speaking of value, this is where the Xingguang 560 really twists the knife. Introductory pricing in China starts at just $8,581 and tops out at $13,746. Even after the launch window closes, prices are expected to remain between roughly $9,155 and $14,751. That’s compact-car money for a midsize crossover with available electrification.

The Bigger Picture

The Xingguang 560 isn’t headed for U.S. shores, and that’s fine. Its real significance lies in what it represents: GM’s willingness to let its Chinese joint ventures design and price products specifically for local tastes, rather than forcing global models into a market that’s moved on.

While other Western brands are still searching for relevance in China, GM is selling nearly two million vehicles a year—and doing it with affordable EVs, clever hybrids, and crossovers like this one. The Xingguang 560 may not be exciting in the traditional Car and Driver sense, but as a case study in how to win China, it’s about as compelling as it gets.

Source: General Motors

NEW CARS

Argo Sasquatch XTX Is a $250K Amphibious Pickup Built for the End of the Road

For more than 60 years, Argo has been doing the kind of work most automakers only pretend to understand: building machines meant to go through the terrain, not just over it. Now the Ontario-based company has rolled out a new flagship that takes that mission to its logical extreme. It’s called the Sasquatch XTX, and it’s less off-road vehicle than it is a blunt-force instrument for geography.

At first glance, the Sasquatch XTX looks familiar. Its upright, industrial proportions immediately recall the Russian-built Sherp, the cult-favorite amphibious crawler that seems equally at home in swamps, tundra, and YouTube thumbnails. But Argo didn’t simply copy the formula. Instead of the Sherp’s compact, almost cartoonish footprint, the Sasquatch stretches the idea into something resembling a pickup truck for the apocalypse.

Pricing hasn’t been officially published by Argo, but don’t expect bargain-basement numbers. Third-party listings suggest a starting point around $190,000, before delivery and dealer fees that can add another $3,500. Start ticking options, and it’s easy to crest $250,000. This isn’t a toy for weekend trail rides; it’s equipment.

The Sasquatch is built around a high-strength crew cab with multiple access points, including a front-mounted door complete with a fold-out ladder, plus more conventional side doors. It’s a clever solution for a vehicle that’s just as likely to be perched on uneven terrain as it is parked on flat ground.

Inside, expectations should be calibrated accordingly. The cabin is spartan but functional, with two front seats and a pair of fold-down seats in the rear. Creature comforts are present, if minimal: air conditioning, heating, Bluetooth audio, and a roof hatch. The real headline feature remains outside—those enormous 71-inch tires, which allow the Sasquatch XTX to float and propel itself through water without breaking a sweat.

Where the Argo really differentiates itself is in usability. The pickup-style rear cargo area provides meaningful storage space, a big advantage over the Sherp’s tightly packaged layout. Then there’s the Argo Terrain Control system, which sounds like marketing fluff until you realize what it actually does. With the push of a button—Water, Mud, Snow, or Trail—the vehicle automatically adjusts tire pressure to suit the surface beneath it. The Sasquatch can even pivot in place, executing a 180-degree turn without moving forward or backward, a party trick that’s as practical in tight spaces as it is intimidating to watch.

Power comes from a Hyundai-sourced 1.8-liter turbo-diesel engine, paired with an automatic transmission. Argo hasn’t released output figures, but performance here is measured in inevitability rather than speed. On land, the Sasquatch tops out at about 25 mph; in the water, it’ll churn along at roughly 4 mph. The point isn’t getting there fast—it’s getting there at all.

That capability makes the Sasquatch XTX more than a high-dollar indulgence for extreme off-roaders. It’s already been put to work as a rescue vehicle, with one example delivered to GlobalMedic, an Ontario-based disaster relief organization. As founder Rahul Singh noted, there are situations where snowmobiles simply won’t cut it—especially when injured or vulnerable people need to be extracted safely.

Argo says interest in the Sasquatch XTX is coming in from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, suggesting this Canadian-built behemoth has global ambitions. And while its price tag and performance figures may seem absurd by conventional automotive standards, the Sasquatch exists in a different category altogether. This isn’t about lap times or luxury—it’s about going where roads, reason, and common sense have all given up.

Source: Argo

News

The Cybertruck Fire That Ended in a Five-Year Sentence

The Tesla Cybertruck has spent most of its public life absorbing attention—some of it earned, some of it self-inflicted, and much of it amplified by the outsized persona of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. But last spring in Mesa, Arizona, the stainless-steel spectacle became collateral damage in something far less abstract: an act of arson that left a dealership scorched, a Cybertruck destroyed, and a man headed to federal prison.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, the attack occurred just before 2:00 a.m. on April 28, 2025, when 35-year-old Ian Moses allegedly rolled up to a Tesla dealership under cover of darkness. Security footage shows Moses placing fire-starting logs near the building, dousing them—and the dealership itself—with gasoline, and soaking three Tesla vehicles before lighting the fuse. One of them was a Cybertruck.

The fire destroyed the truck outright and damaged the exterior of the dealership, underscoring a reality automakers and dealers have increasingly had to confront: vehicles are no longer just transportation or consumer goods, but cultural symbols. And symbols, once politicized, can become targets.

Mesa police arrested Moses roughly an hour later, about a quarter mile from the scene. He was reportedly still wearing the same clothes seen in the surveillance footage and was carrying a hand-drawn map of the area with a conspicuous “T” marking the dealership’s location. While he had attempted to conceal his identity with a black mask during the attack, the evidence left little room for doubt.

Moses pleaded guilty to all charges on October 27, 2025. Earlier this week, he was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. He will also be required to pay restitution, with the amount to be determined at a hearing scheduled for April 13.

In strictly legal terms, the sentence is notable not for its severity but for its restraint. Moses had been facing five counts of maliciously damaging property and vehicles in interstate commerce by means of fire—each carrying a potential sentence of five to 20 years in prison, plus fines of up to $250,000 per count. The five-year sentence ultimately imposed lands at the very bottom of that range.

That outcome appears to sit uneasily alongside earlier rhetoric from the Department of Justice. Attorney General Pamela Bondi had previously stated that those engaging in politically motivated violence would be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law” with “no negotiating.” Yet, in this case, negotiation clearly occurred, resulting in a comparatively light sentence given the statutory maximums.

U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine struck a more measured tone, emphasizing principle over punishment. “Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics,” he said, adding that the sentence “reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability.”

For Tesla—and for the auto industry more broadly—the incident is a reminder that dealerships are frontline infrastructure. They are open, public-facing, and increasingly exposed as automakers and their executives become lightning rods in broader cultural debates. The Cybertruck, with its polarizing design and symbolic weight, has become an especially visible proxy in those arguments.

Still, the takeaway here isn’t about stainless steel body panels, EV adoption curves, or even Tesla’s polarizing leadership. It’s about consequences. A dealership can be repaired. A truck can be replaced. Five years of freedom cannot.

As the industry continues to navigate an era where cars double as cultural statements, the Mesa arson stands as a stark example of what happens when political anger spills out of the comment section and into the real world. And this time, it ended not with a viral clip—but with a federal sentence.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office; Photos: Department of Justice